Chapter 9

Location: Uroro Station in orbit above the Planet Shedu Maad

"By all of Alderaan's ghosts!" Corran exclaimed while his eyes were transfixed to the magnified holographic projection of Tendra's postmortem X-rays. "I cant believe she survived for two seconds let alone the 5 minutes needed to complete the jump to the station."

Luke was still looking at the same projection dumbstruck by the damage. Every individual bone in her body, although in one piece, had micro fractures over the entire surface. It was clear by changing the filter setting that those were not just surface fractures but went deep into the bone. Every organ was riddled with micro tears, and her hands... HER HANDS... That was the worst. The bones in her hands had all been semi liquified. Every second that she was alive with these injuries would have been filled with the worst imaginable pain.

"I don't think she really made it past 2 seconds" Luke finally said.

He then added in a somber tone: "I think Love forced her body to hold together until she got Chance to... to safety."

They each both glanced at the other, sharing a look that only parents could interpret.

"Jaina said that after hearing Chance had made it she just let go." Corran said in admiration and regret, in a voice so quiet to almost be considered a whisper.

He then took a cleansing breath and using the controls, zoomed out the projected image. "See this here" he said while pointing at her hands. "All her other injuries are consistent throughout her body except her hands. We've poured over all of Cilghal's notes, tests and charts for the past six hours now. This is the only thing that is screaming to me, but I don't know what it's saying."

Luke was straining his mind trying to see some kind of connection, but gave up on the endeavour as futile. They were still missing too much of the puzzle.

He passed the ball back over to Corran by asking: "In all your years in CorSec and in the fleet, have you ever seen anything like these injuries?"

Corran didn't even have to review his repertoire of memories that included mortal wounds, to confirm what he was pretty sure Luke already knew: "Never! It confounds me. They both look as if they've been partially burned, partially electrocuted, and partially pulverized. And the hands! I can't even begin to fathom what would..." He trailed off.

He had not seen that particular injury but he had seen something similar in the victims of bombings. For instance if they were picking up a disguised bomb and it went off, the body would have all expected injuries associated with an explosion: Broken bones, lacerations, burns... but the hands. The hands usually would be gone if they were holding the bomb.

This was different but it pointed to one shared truth: "... She must have been holding whatever caused the damage."

Luke got an eager look in his eye: "So a bomb?"

Corran shook his head and replied: "I'm pretty sure if a bomb exploded in her hand, and it was big enough to kill Chance on the other end of the ship... I would expect her whole body to be vaporized and the hull breached. It's like a bomb, but not... a bomb."

Luke looked puzzled: "I don't see how that's Possible."

"It's Possible", Ben replied from the entrance.

"You found something." Corran wasn't guessing.

He had recognized Ben's expression as one who had been banging his head against a durasteel hull, only to have it unexpectedly break through.

"Yeah, but we don't know what." He replied.

He then waited till R2D2 and Tahiri had joined him around the Holoprojecter his Dad and Corran were working on.

"Ok! Plug in Artoo." Ben told the droid.

"Wait Ben we're working on something here." Corran said.

"Ok! Artoo can you bring it up on Split Projectormode?"

To which the droid let out an affirmative whistle and plugged his interface into the console.

In a few seconds the original image shrunk in size and was offset by the new holo it was forced to share a projector with. The new image was that of the doomed shuttle.

"Artoo magnify the hull."

The holo kept zooming in until Ben said "Riiiiiggt theeere... Ok, Stop!"

Luke and Corran looked at each other, then Luke used the projector's controls to zoom back in on the X-rays.

Everyone just stared at the images side by side. One was bone and the other durasteel but the fractures on them were identical.

"The same. "Corran said to himself.

Ben then asked "Artoo, can you bring up the burn pattern."

With a couple beeps, the droid changed from the image of the hull into a rotating distinct circular pattern.

Tahiri then took over: "I found this burn mark deep underneath the pilot's console, we think it was left by an unknown device."

Ben naturally continued: "See, our theory is that Tendra discovered this device, told Chance to get out of the cockpit and headed to the back pod. I think she stayed and removed the device but it went off before she could do anything with ..."

"...That's it!" Corran barked, interrupting Ben.

With a nod from Luke he zoomed out the X-ray and then slightly zoomed in again on the hands.

"She was holding that!" He said while pointing at the image of the burn pattern.

"The "not bomb", bomb." Luke said to Corran.

Corran in turn asked: "Artoo? Using the X-ray and ship data, could you search all Hapan, GA, and Jedi databases for any devices with that exact shape(pointing at the burn pattern) and could cause the resultant damage?"

R2 whistled an affirmative and then, through his interface port, he was off exploring all known Databases.

The progress was tiny, it was just a starting point really, but it was enough to electrify the small group of investigators. For those not having the dreaded task of examining the explicit details of a mother and child's death, such enthusiasm might seem cold or inappropriate. But if a detective got so caught up in the negative emotions of a crime, then, they simply couldn't do their Job. Grieving would come later. For now they all would ride the wave of enthusiasm generated from their first win.

Nobody was as effected by their headway as Luke was. He felt something awaken in him that had been dormant: He was absolutely sure. He was absolutely sure, that this lead would guide them all the way to the culprits. He was absolutely sure, that his path was transecting other paths on the way to some greater purpose, and he was absolutely sure that this had something to do with his vision. Unlike all the others, that last point threatened to topple him back over into uncertainty, but no, this was a good thing. Hiding away from the vision would not protect him from it, it would just leave him ignorant and unprepared to face it properly.

Dena was right: he needed answers so he could give the Masters answers. So he would try to... no: "Do or do not, there is no try" his old Master's words correcting him again as they had done so many decades ago. "I will do" he resolved in his heart.

At that very moment R2 erupted in a cacophony of whistles, beeps and honks.

Corran gently said: "Slow down friend, put it up on the projector."

With that, the two previous holograms were replaced with a single 3D image. It was a circular, relatively flat device that had 6 small fins protruding at even intervals around the circumference. At its nucleus resided a small translucent dome that contained some kind of glowing plasma flux inside. In Basic, beside the 3D object, were the initials V.O.C.

Underneath was the full Term: "Variable. Ore. Charge" Tahiri read aloud.

They all read in half mumbles the following projected description: "V.O.C's are used in the mining of ore found in planets and astroids. When activated the variable charge can fracture (frac) the ore into a fine substance, that can then be easily processed." The room was left in shock for several reasons:

1- They had found the device used in the sabotage (and yes it was now official: SABOTAGE)

2- They had filled in all the gaps in their theory

Ben was the first to voice the newly refined scenario: "I think I know what happened."

He took a deep breath and just went for it.

"This charge was placed underneath the console at some point in the Calrissian's travels. The "bad guys"(yes, Ben never stood on ceremony) had no choice but to put it in the cockpit even though they ran the risk of it being found. If they put it in the say living area or the engine room, the Calrissians could get away by activating the cockpit's escape pod mode. They put it in the cockpit to basically ... well, to... ensure... a kill." he finally blurted out.

Everyone winced inwardly in sympathy to Ben's awkwardness but Corran exhorted him: "Continue Ben, I think you're on to something."

So Ben continued: "Ok! Where was I? Ok right.. uh... So if the charge went off properly secured to the ship, there would be nothing left of it. If it was set high enough it would have just vaporized it into tiny granules while in hyperspace. No ship, no evidence: Assumed accident, no proof... you get the picture.

But Something must have tipped off Tendra. I think... I think the sleemos were counting on the fact that the shuttle was new and the family wouldn't have recognized a new "thing" under the console.

But Tendra knew, somehow she knew... but not in time. All she could do is send Chance to the back Pod. She new he would be safe in there, if he made it.

She was holding the device when it went off and thats why her hands... you know... and that's why the shuttle made it out of hyperspace.

The VOC wasn't in contact with the hull so only a fraction of the energy made it the shuttle. If she was made of a hard substance there would be nothing left of Tendra, but the device doesn't seem to be as effective on ... uh... flesh."

It took every ounce of control for Ben not to hurl his guts out after his impromptu report. The exhilaration of discovery what happened mixed with the disgusting heartbreaking details of the crime conspired to relieve Ben's stomach of its latest addition. But he was able to hold on. Luke, at that moment was so proud of Ben. He knew Mara would be so proud of him everyone around the holo projector was proud of him. In that moment he knew... His thought was interrupted by a realization.

He responded out loud with:" Ben! So, we're going with the theory that she was holding the VOC, right?"

Ben Was a little taken with his dads mild outburst and wondering why he was repeating his theory (and worried that his dad was going to have to correct a mistake) so he replied sheepishly: "uhh... yeeess."

Luke then continued: " I think your right, but I think the charge began an activation sequence before Tendra removed it."

Everyone started to slowly nod. "Hence the burns on the console?" Tahiri postulated.

"Hence the burns." Luke agreed.

"Which means.."

he closed the holo of the charge and brought up holo of Tendra's hands.

This time it was a 3D model her fully fleshed hands as it was documented during her autopsy. He zoomed in on her Palms and there burned into her skin was a partial circular shape with fins. He zoomed in more and there...

"By the Force. We thought those were random burns from the pilots controls!"

Corran said in awe. There in the burnt design of her hands were a small line of numbers and letters: A serial number? Lot number? Product code? It didn't matter. It would lead them to the "sith spawn" that did this.

At that point a hard look came over Corran's face.

Tahiri could feel his sudden tension in the force. "... uh.. Master Horn? Forgive me if I'm wrong but isn't this a good thing?I mean... good thing... for the investigation. I think we can trace it back to the source now."

He looked at them all and said: "Yes, but are you prepared for that source? Just think about it: Who has access to mining equipment? Who did the shuttle belong to? Who left Tendra and Chance just before the attack?"

Reluctantly the same name appeared in everyone's thoughts

Everyone stood there in stung silence. They wanted to deny it; banish the idea from their minds. But they were investigators, and they were Jedi. They would not shrink back but sally forth to find the truth. Even if the truth was terrible, and twisted and... the utmost betrayal.